Since the beginning of this year, two new staff members are already making a difference in the department of archives and special collections.

In January, Lori N. Curtis, MLS, MA, joined the department as the new archivist for the University. She received her bachelor’s degree in history and social studies from Pacific Union College, Angwin, California; a master’s degree in history from the University of California, Riverside; and a master of library science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, with an emphasis in special collections.

Nineteen years ago, Ms. Curtis accepted a position in the archives and special collections at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she became director of that department in 1998. Ms. Curtis is actively engaged in preserving and protecting the rare materials entrusted to our institution.

“Lori is a fun person to be around and brings a sense of enthusiasm to our department,” says Michael W. Campbell, MA, interim chair of the department. “She is furthermore helping to bring our policies and procedures up to date.” When she is not busily engaged in the archives, she can be found at home with her two cats.

In May, the archivist assistant position was filled by Lisa Catalano-Appleton. A graduate of Walla Walla College (with a bachelor’s degree in English), Ms. Catalana-Appleton is studying early modern studies at Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California. She says that the realm of archives began to interest her while she did research as a student at Claremont.

“I am excited to be working in archives and special collections,” she says.

Lisa was married this past fall to Carl Appleton, who is a student in the School of Dentistry.

The department of archives and special collections contains more than 200 manuscript collections that draw researchers from around the world. The addition of these two staff members will help the department to further enhance access to these rare materials—much of which is one-of-a-kind and for which there is no other copy. The department is a premier research archive for the study of Adventism and the health sciences. A large portion of the collection documents scientific advances pioneered by faculty and alumni and their contributions around the globe.